August 5 – 11, 2023
News
Comment
Comment
Nyadol Nyuon
The misuse of Martin Luther King Jr
“A man once called the radical King is being transformed into a conservative icon. The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr’s message, for so long opposed by American conservatives, is now being used by the same political class to support their ideas and values.”
Comment
John Hewson
The case for a global crisis centre
“It is with mounting despair that I note several mega threats to our planet and to humanity seem to be simultaneously gathering considerable momentum, yet governments and policy authorities are simply ignoring the severity and urgency of the challenges.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Composer Caroline Shaw
Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw has done it all, from film to television to opera to rap.
The Influence
Laura Woollett
The emotional immediacy and complexity of Ennio Morricone’s iconic score for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly opens possibilities in Laura Woollett’s work.
Fiction
But what’s it for?
“So once I came across a bird trapped inside a large blue cage and I was struck immediately by several things. The bars were the same blue as Yves Klein’s Blue Monochrome. I had a particular penchant for Klein and knew the shade immediately. Also the bird had unforgettable piercing black eyes, a broad pale beak and wore a charming black beret on its head, not to mention a sweet red and white gingham dress. Do you think you could open this cage for me, the bird said, doffing the beret.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Politics
“They need to move on.”
The former prime minister claims he was the victim of a “political lynching” at the robo-debt royal commission. Oddly, “move on” is also great career advice.
Television
“I kind of just had to wing it and my brain was so scrambled.”
The television personality explains her speech after winning the Gold Logie. It also explains her views on Muslim immigration and the course of her career more generally.
Race
“I’m not going up there to pretend I’m somebody that I’m not.”
The opposition leader explains why he will not travel to Garma this weekend. The person he is not is presumably someone willing to honour Australia’s largest Indigenous gathering.
Airlines
“I want more capacity for people to be able to enjoy travel, but equally I want ... to decarbonise the transport sector.”
The Transport minister explains why she denied Qatar Airways’ request to double its flights to Australia. In unrelated news, it was revealed Anthony Albanese’s 23-year-old son was granted access to the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge.
Violence
“Frankly, we are not talking about it nearly enough.”
The Liberal deputy leader describes Australia’s domestic violence rates as “a national disgrace”. It’s a pretty common spelling, but this may be the same Sussan Ley who rejected a royal commission’s call for Medicare to subsidise counselling services for victims and their families.
Law
“Ms Higgins continues to use the media to make defamatory comments about my conduct …”
The Liberal senator confirms she is suing Brittany Higgins for defamation and breach of contract. There is no joke to go with this, but not because we couldn’t think of one.
ISRAEL–HAMAS WAR
